Mark Wahlberg wants good Catholic priests involved in kids' lives

Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg expressed his appreciation for Catholic priests in a video where he stated that he wanted good priests to play a role in his children's lives.

Wahlberg began his video with a greeting to the attendees of the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors which is being held in his hometown, Boston.

"I want you to know my support for your work to foster vocations to the priesthood, because I want my children and future generations to have good priests in their lives, just like I had," said Wahlberg.

Some priests came up with the idea to invite the actor to the conference when the city was selected for the event, Catholic News Service reported. Wahlberg's tight schedule would not allow him to attend so he made a video instead.

The actor is currently promoting his new film "Deepwater Horizon" which is about the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

In the video, he emphasized the significance of the Catholic faith in his life.

"My Catholic faith is the anchor that supports everything I do in life. In my daily prayers, I ask for guidance, strength in my vocation as a husband and as a father," Wahlberg stated. "Growing up in Dorchester, I got myself into trouble now and then but I always had a priest to stick by me," he continued.

Wahlberg added that a priest officiated his wedding ceremony and baptized his children. He also shared that priests performed the burial ceremonies of his family members.

Speaking with Catholic News Service, Rosemary Sullivan, executive director of the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors, said that Wahlberg spoke from the heart and did not receive a script for the video.

Wahlberg reportedly served as an emcee when Pope Francis visited Philadelphia last year for the World Meeting of Families.

Last month, Wahlberg was spotted at St. Aidan's Church in Seahouses, Northumberland. He reportedly took time off from filming the fifth "Transformers" movie to attend mass and give a large donation to the church.